Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Budget figures changing, between school reform laws’ failure and H&W updates…

Legislative budget chief Cathy Holland-Smith addresses lawmakers on Friday (Betsy Russell)
Legislative budget chief Cathy Holland-Smith addresses lawmakers on Friday (Betsy Russell)

Legislative Budget Director Cathy Holland-Smith prefaced her presentation to the Legislative Council with a caveat: Many of the numbers will change from what she's prepared. That's because voters rejected the "Students Come First" school reform laws, meaning state Superintendent Tom Luna's budget request for next year, which was based on those laws, will need a re-do. Plus, just last night, the state Department of Health & Welfare submitted a substantial budget revision, Holland-Smith said, one that likely will be positive. "We know caseloads are down somewhat," she said.

Between those two factors - affecting the largest portions of Idaho's state budget - "A substantial amount of the budget request will have to change," Holland-Smith said.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

Follow Betsy online: